Chillis Blast off to Scottish triple-platinum status

It is the dream of not a few pipe band pipers and drummers to have rock-star status, but the Red Hot Chilli Pipers continue to live the dream, especially after the bagpipe-rock fusion group was received an award for its DVD, Blast Live, going triple-platinum in Scotland.

The band was presented with the award by Neil Ross of REL Records May 8th at their gig at the Arches in Glasgow. The group is currently on tour in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur playing its brand of “jock and roll” around the world.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers specialize in tartaned-up covers of iconic rock songs by such groups as Queen, Coldplay and Deep Purple. The band consists of pipers Stuart Cassells, Kevin MacDonald and Willie Armstrong; pipe band snare drummers Steven Graham and Malcolm McEwan; rock drummer Steven Black; Chris Russell on keyboards; and Gregor James on guitar.

Ten-thousand DVD sales are needed to gain platinum status in Scotland. For a CD to go platinum in Scotland, 30,000 units must be sold. Cassells reports that the Blast Live CD has so far reached 22,000 sales.

Triple platinum – here’s hoping they continue their amazing success. Stuart was our tutor on a smallpipes course and could not have been more willing to help us as we struggled to get to grips with the bellows! And Willie Armstrong offered to set up my Saul bagpipe tuneer when I got into a fankle with it even though I’m a complete stranger to him. What decent guys who deserve every ounce of success they get, and more besides.

Triple platinum – here’s hoping they continue their amazing success. Stuart was our tutor on a smallpipes course and could not have been more willing to help us as we struggled to get to grips with the bellows! And Willie Armstrong offered to set up my Saul bagpipe tuneer when I got into a fankle with it even though I’m a complete stranger to him. What decent guys who deserve every ounce of success they get, and more besides.

Pressuring bands to compete only in sanctioned contests makes some sense. The RSPBA’s most recent alleged request – some use the word “bullying” – that bands not compete at the new Spring Gatherin’ has brought the topic to the for …